The Last Daughter of Krypton - IC

[ChasNicollette]

Jamie.

Merick stopped grinning.

"Yessir. Sorry." Merick took his seat and looked down at the floor.

Jamie clicked his pen, and watched the settling of dust and bits of cobweb. "Everyone follow Merick's example and get back to your seats, just one meteoroid today, thank Newton."

Then glanced at Merick. And smiled a faint little smile.

"Oh, and Tennylson?" he began anew. "Nice entrance."

He grinned, and then went right back to attendance, he'd clean up those ceiling panels in a minute. "'Whitaker-Sisto, Thomas.'"

"Uh, here!"

 

[TearsoftheWorld]

After Kara had finished doing the tango with her locker, she slammed the damnable door shut and picked up her belongings. The warning bell had already rung, but unlike her first day at Smallville High Kara knew where to go this time around. She moved with the crowd down the hallway until she pushed her way into her Home Economics class.

Mrs. Murphy had just started taking attendance.

"Kara Kent."

"I'm here," Kara said as she snagged a clean apron out from the closet and walked over to her station. She felt a sudden vibration course through one of her pants pockets, and pulling out her cellphone she gave a quick glance at the incoming text. It was from Merick.

'Someone distract Rose's dad! Late again, as usual. Don't want him to have to cover for me again!'

Kara was just about to reply when...

"Kent!"

"Sorry," Kara said as she quickly pocketed her cell. She and her partner got started on their assignment, and before she knew it the bell started to ring. After cleaning their station, Kara dropped her apron off in the laundry bin and grabbed her books.

History.

Without Var-Sen or Bruce Wayne.

Talk about your downers.

But Kyle was there, sitting towards the back, and Kara threw him a bright smile as she took her seat more towards the middle of the room.

 

[ChasNicollette]

Ceri.

"I'll just step to that stand of cedar by the football field and walk in. I'll beat the bus, but thats OK. I can find something to do."

Ceri nodded. This approach vector made good tactical sense.

He smelled like sulphur and brimstone. He smelled like dried blood and murder.

Jamie might have been the one with heightened senses, but there were certain aromas one never forgets.

And. Ceri understood. She understood that Rose's first time out as a superhero, she'd had to take a life. And Ceri understood what it meant to take a life for the first time, for the greater good. Rose needed to be protected.

Wraith was protecting Rose, and he was still fighting the hard hard Three Prime Directive fight.

Ceri's lips curved in the very faintest of smiles.

"I'll catch you later Ms McCrimmon. Places to go, grades to be kept up." Shadows engulfed me...

Ceri watched him vanish, and sighed wearily. And, sliding into the car, she clicked the garage-door opener on the visor.

What was it John always said? 'People to do, places to see, things to be?'

She rolled out through the Smallville countryside, glancing about as she went at the beautiful wide expanses of snow, the various farmers out doing their thing. There were a few empty houses around here, now, people who'd pulled up roots after the second Shower. Shame, really.

As she drove, she passed by a number of those houses, and one in particular caught her eye. She slowed down as she passed it, this tiny little black house with dim grey shutters, she drove slowly past it.

There was a burly orange cat sitting on the front steps, his tail wrapped around his paws like a scarf on the one bit of the front steps sheltered from the snow by an awning. The cat stood out like a sore orange thumb.

Ceri frowned, trying to get a good look at the cat.

The cat squinched golden-brown eyes at Ceri as she trundled by, and then began licking a forepaw.

'Nunna yer bizness,' it seemed to say.

Ceri harrumphed, and kept driving.

She rolled into the alley between The Talon and her own Confidential Cutdowns, the business she'd bought ten years ago with the money Uncle Dai had left to her. Nell's Bouquet looked nice, with all the poinsettias out in the shop-front windows.

Ceri let herself in the back with her key and strolled over the white tiles, ducking out back for a minute to flick the circuit breakers to start up the lights in the store and inside the ever-rotating barber-pole, her own little contribution to the red-and-white Christmas colours.

She checked her answering machine. No cancellations as yet. Fantastic.

She glanced at the clock.

Little time yet. Maybe time to grab a little Earl Grey from The Talon next door?

...if the queue's not too long.

She had a lot of updo appointments today, people getting ready for the next big dance, this was the fullest her book had been in ages. She didn't want to miss anyone.

Quickly, now.

Putting her hands in the pockets of her leather jacket, she strolled out front, hung up a 'back in five minutes' sign, and made to jog across to The Talon. But as she went she paused.

A little bit down the way near the late Mrs. Greer's old antique shop there was that new shop. One of the ones that had closed after the second Shower and had since re-opened. Before it had been a costume shop, it hadn't even made it to Hallowe'en, the poor thing, that September disaster, but the new proprietor had fixed it right up. And the sign, it seemed, was turned to "open."

She glanced at The Talon. And then she glanced at Sentinels of Magic.

Later for tea.

Better to be polite. Better to be a... what's the phrase, 'welcome wagon.' A one-woman welcome wagon, to be perfectly alliterative.

And she strolled towards the magic shop, peering in the window with a hand cupped around her eyes before entering in and smelling a whole 'nother array of unforgettable smells.

"Hulloh?" she murmured, tucking a lock of hair back behind her ear.

 

[Varshanka]

Zatanna Zatara

And she strolled towards the magic shop, peering in the window with a hand cupped around her eyes before entering in and smelling a whole 'nother array of unforgettable smells.

"Hulloh?" she murmured, tucking a lock of hair back behind her ear.

With books adrift in the air, with legs crossed as she focused, Zantanna hear the tinkle of the door. The waft of a scent crossing her senses.

And some of those scents..

…were not normal.

A hint of sulfur and brimstone. And not the kind you found in a candle shop. This was real. A subtle hint. Not a personal escapade. But contact with those that did travel.. other places.

Long lean legs unfolded and descended. Feet contact the floor as she straightened. Books returned to hiding on shelves. Candles flickering in the room.

Rolling her neck Zatanna strode from the backroom, the bead curtain gliding apart without a word. (She’d have a chat with it later about doing that when they had company.) Dressed to the nines in an attire that only she and Elvira would find suitable for everyday wear.

“Greetings and Salutations,” she said with a smile. “Welcome to the Sentinels of Magic. How may I assist you?”

 

[ChasNicollette]

Ceri.

Rolling her neck Zatanna strode from the backroom, the bead curtain gliding apart without a word. (She’d have a chat with it later about doing that when they had company.) Dressed to the nines in an attire that only she and Elvira would find suitable for everyday wear.

Ceri blinked at the silent entrance of the fishnet-clad siren, a very subtle thing, but interesting. Like when John would stand out in the rain and not get wet, or in China when he stood amongst the chattering of machine guns and was not grazed once.

And then.

Oh, my.

Her younger days on the rock scene following John around on his Mucous Membrane gigs, before John's running off to Newcastle and everything's going wrong, Ceri might have worn something so audacious. It reminded Ceri of Dinah's "work clothes."

And those boots were. Just tremendous.

She was lovely to behold, and she was playing this role to the hilt, and Ceri felt something she almost never ever ever felt. She felt... intimidated.

“Greetings and Salutations,” she said with a smile. “Welcome to the Sentinels of Magic. How may I assist you?”

Ceri smiled gamely, took a breath. "Well, no, it's." (Had her Welsh accent thickened a bit? Some sort of social defence mechanism causing her vowels to swell at the speaking?) "No, it's. I run the hairdresser's down the street, hulloh. I just sort of. Wanted to welcome you to Smallville, Nell Potter did the same for me when I set up me shop, passing on the goodwill?"

She glanced around. "(This place. Really is lovely. I've seen shops in Salem that weren't this ornately stocked. Yeh're to be congratulated on how quickly yeh've gotten yehr feet under the table.)"

The hand with which she'd brushed back her hair extended to the mystical creature for a handshake. "I'm Ceri, by the way. Ceri McCrimmon. Lovely to meet you, really-really."

 

[camerindrake]

Dinah walks out of the Talon and over to Ceri's place before opening Nell's and starting her shift when she gets a ring on her cell. Touching the clr button she activates the touch screen.

"]Damn it Damian what did you do this time," she sighs before answering the cell and removes what is left of her irish accent out of her voice, "Principal Kwan what seams to be the issue?"

Principal Kwan, on the other end says, "Its your son David He got in another confrontation. Could you please come to the school? I rather this be something we discuss in person."

Dinah in false cheer answers, "Of course Principal Kwan I will be right there." She then ends the call and under her breath says, "Damian I am going to have your hide when I get home." She then calls Nell to let her know that she has to go to the school.

She fumes as she drives the black charger to the school, her Irish accent in full swing, "I swear that boy isn't even trying to adjust. He still thinks to only answer any situation with his fists. What is the point of a secret identity when all y'do is blow it daily by getting in fights over the lightest shite." At which point she slams her hand into the steering wheel.

Outside the office Damian sends Pete a text, "Pete meet at my place, May be able to train you might not. I found out I broke Troy's arm in three places. Dinah is going to be furious. Crater Lake might have to wait until later."

Dinah storms into the office and looks at Damian and says "Ill have words with you later," Then she looks over to the secretary and says "I got a call from Principal Kwan."

The secretary uses the comm button and contacts Principal Kwan and responds, "He will see you now."

Dinah responds, "Thank you," and walks into Principal Kwan's office.

Principal Kwan says, "Miss Cain, sorry to pull you from you job like this, However your son David had an altercation with another student Troy Baker. He broke the boys arm in three places before throwing him into a windshield. The altercation lasted less than five minutes. Troy's parents have decided against pressing charges but as per school regulations I will have to suspend him for a minimum of 3 days."

Dinah sighs upon hearing this and responds, "I understand this, sir. May I ask that you not do this. Removing him from a chance to learn how normal people interact would hurt his chances to acclimate into proper society."

Principal Kwan leans forward and asks, "How so Miss Cain?"

Dinah explains, "When I found the boy he was raised in a world of violence. I freed him from that world by adopting him and am trying to give him a chance to be free of that world." and thinks to herself, 'That's not a complete lie. When Bruce accepted him into the Wayne family he and Dick tried to do just that.'

Principal Kwan responds with, "That is all well and good Miss Cain but we cant let him go around thinking that he can get away with tossing people through cars and beating them into a bloody pulp."

Dinah smiles and says, "Believe me when he gets home I will make sure he gets the proper punishment to this. So please Principal Kwan if you would please not suspend him."

Principal Kwan sighs, "Anything and I mean anything like this happens again I will not just suspend him I will make sure he is expelled and not allowed on any Lowell County school property again. You understand me Miss Cain."

Dinah smiles and says, "Completely."

Principal Kwan nods, "Good, Now take care of your son before I throw him into ISS as an afterthought."

Dinah smiles as she gets up, "Thank you, Sir."

At this Principal Kwan grunts and Dinah leaves the office. In the secretarial staff office Dinah looks down at a still sitting Damian and says, "We are going to have a talk young man."

Damian nods and gets up standing almost a head taller than Dinah and follows her out of the office. She leads him to the Football field which at this point and time is empty of students and staff. And with a spin slams the top of her foot into the back of Damian's knee sending him to his knees. She then puts her hair behind her ear and says, "Sit there while i think."

Damian sighs and says, "I'm sorry. I just reacted."

Dinah rubs the back of her neck and answers, "Go through what happened with me."

Damian closes his eyes for a a moment and they open and in rapid succession says, " Waiting for Ross, Pete. Subject of discussion: Training at Frozen Crater Lake. Bus 3 minutes late. Air crisp. Reminded me of Tibet. Gaze fell on front entrance of Smallville High. Counted 34 unknown noncombatants waiting by door. Many in one conversation or other. Notice Mostly gossip no serious information to be gathered. Winter Formal also major point of topic. Bus 4 minutes late. Subject Troy Baker walking towards me. Stance aggressive. Words spoken, 'Hey loser, what are you looking at? Huh! You scoping out my girl?!' Response as I look around the campus noticing no children or infants at current location, 'I do not see any infants here so I don't believe I am scoping out your girl.' His stance changes from aggressive to threatening and he throws a right hook. My body moves to counter attack."

Dinah sighs and says, "Enough! Damn it, Damian! I know you and you wouldn't say that just to get a rile out of him." She then starts pacing before continuing, "Jesus, Mary and Joseph! I think you need to take lessons from your friends to learn how people talk in your age group. You got friends here in school right. You know like that Pete Ross you mentioned."

Damian nods, "Yes I have allies."

Dinah growls, "Aren't they also friends?"

The knight nods, "I would guess so."

The false blond sighs, "Good, after class today you will be meditating on the nail platform until dinner. and 10 runs through the hot coal bed after got it. Just so you know that is not the end of this punishment." She then smiles "What is this i hear about a winter formal."

 

[Varshanka]

Zatarra listened for a moment. Truly listened to what was said. And what wasn’t. The pauses. The restarts. The stops and switching of words.

And her smile broadened, welcoming Ceri deeper into the shop. She didn’t have a store. Stores were people looked. Where things were observed and purchased without touch. Or feel. She had a shop. Touch it. Feel it in your hands. Was this the right candle for YOU? Did this deck of cards call to your soul?

“Goodwill and greetings to the region. Such a concept. So I should welcome the next new shop owner?” Gliding forward on the feet of a ballerina, or an angel, Zatanna moved around the shop. Discreetly observing her guest from many angles.

“I love your accent. Sounds.. Welsh or Irish. It’s very.. lovely.” She added, thinking about how lovely she found the lady as well. And the accent, well that just made her blush. In several places. “And I’m Zatanna Zatara, proprietress of this establishment.”

“Are you sure there isn’t something you’d like to see?” she asked. Only afterwards realizing the double meaning. But not regretting it. Not at all. This.. Ceri was rather.. intriguing.

“I have a great many things available here. If you see anything you like. You’re welcome to touch it. To get a feel for it. If you wish. Anything. Except what’s on the other side of the beaded curtain.”

 

[ChasNicollette]

Ceri.

...her smile broadened, welcoming Ceri deeper into the shop.

“Goodwill and greetings to the region. Such a concept. So I should welcome the next new shop owner?” Gliding forward on the feet of a ballerina, or an angel, Zatanna moved around the shop. Discreetly observing her guest from many angles.

Ceri moved with her. Ceri had something of a grace about her, though this grace was sleeted through with an economy of movement. As with parkour and free running and all those silly ways she knew to beat a body senseless, where efficiency in one's motion was utmost to be desired, this seeped out into Ceri's moving about the store. Perhaps she was just being careful of being clumsy around the crystals and the wind-chimes and the candelabra, but at the same time... she was nothing compared to the easy flow of this woman's poise.

Is this all showmanship? Because it's quite good.

She was not unaware of the discreet eyes upon her. It felt strange, a little prickly feeling in the base of the neck, like being watched in some sort of extrasensory fashion. But such... sizing-up, this was not unusual when in a new town meeting new people, perhaps this raven-tressed siren-creature was wary of someone Fundamentalist raising a hullaballoo about the pagan rites here advertised, spelling "magick" with a "k" and all that.

"What's it called, now?" Ceri smiled softly, trailing her finger over the gold-plated frame of a mirror. "'Pay it forward?' I'm sure it's not a requirement, dear, but whomever they are who'll next hang up a shingle, I'm sure they'd appreciate it."

“I love your accent. Sounds.. Welsh or Irish. It’s very.. lovely.” She added...

"It's Welsh, yes," Ceri nodded easily. "I'm from an old Cardiff family. And thank you, it's just how I talk, but thank you."

“And I’m Zatanna Zatara, proprietress of this establishment.”

'Zatanna Zatara,' Ceri pondered, arching an eyebrow at that. Was it familiar? She couldn't tell. But that sort of mixture of Italian-esque syllables and alliteration and that rolling "r," all of that was like an incantation in its own right. It certainly lent credence to the showmanship notion, it sounded so much like a stage name. But then, there was a kind of truth to it.

"Zatanna," Ceri nodded, and smiled softly. "And you thought my accent was lovely."

“Are you sure there isn’t something you’d like to see?” she asked.

Ceri supposed this wasn't unreasonable, she'd darkened the woman's doorstep, after all, what better way to show welcome than to make a purchase? It didn't seem as though the woman was saying, 'if you're not going to buy something, you should go,' but still. It'd only be polite.

“I have a great many things available here. If you see anything you like. You’re welcome to touch it. To get a feel for it. If you wish. Anything. Except what’s on the other side of the beaded curtain.”

Ceri glanced at that curtain, half-lidding an eye. Pay no attention to the realm behind the curtain, isn't it?

"'Employees only,'" Ceri nodded easily. "I understand."

She paused, there, between a shelf of tomes and a few little statuettes. She picked one of these up, one that resembled The Lady of Guadalupe, it went with some of the other iconography that she'd--

She blinked. Ran her fingers over the bottom of it, found a secret compartment.

"Oh, they're reliquaries," she murmured, "that's splendid."

Then she frowned, and shook her head. "No, no, a reliquary is stationary. If it's portable, it's a feretory. Honestly, you must think I'm a complete--"

Tutting at herself, she set down the little image of The Empress of The Americas and turned her attention instead to a deck of cards sitting by itself on a shelf. Tarot.

Picking up the deck, she examined the artwork on the box, opened this box up and looked through the cards, examining the workmanship on the arcana displayed thereupon.

Carefully sorting the cards away, she closed the box and held this up to Zatanna in the palm of an upturned hand.

"I had a... friend, once," she mused. "He would have loved this. I think I'll... I think I'll get this. Not out of tribute to him? Just sort of a... a nod."

 

[Varshanka]

“A purchase is not needed,” Zatanna tried to explain as Ceri wandered around. My, what a very nice.. Stop it. It won’t happen. Alone. You must be alone. Always alone. Look, but don’t ever touch.

Never touch. In a universe of people she was alone. Always destined to be. Alone.

But Ceri was rather interested in the deck. And the harmony of the Universe seemed a little calmer with it in her hand. A match. For both of them.

“.. But, if you wish.” She said, changing her mind in mid sentence. “Would you like it in a box, for safe keeping?” she asked, moving over to a polished counter. A counter without a cash register or other device for tallying sales.

“If I can get you anything else?”

 

[ChasNicollette]

Ceri.

“A purchase is not needed,” Zatanna tried to explain as Ceri wandered around. “.. But, if you wish.” She said, changing her mind in mid sentence. “Would you like it in a box, for safe keeping?” she asked, moving over to a polished counter.

Ceri grinned. Thank yeh. Thank yeh for not trying to talk me out of being generous. And I, in turn, shall not try to talk yeh into being noble.

She shook her head. "It's lovely as is, really. I have a nice cabinet I can put this in at home."

“If I can get you anything else?”

She'd locked her purse in the salon, but she still had some tip cash in her pocket, and she dug for this. "Well, no, not right now. But I'll definitely be doing a little holiday shopping here. It is just so difficult to find a good Saturnalia present these days..."

She shook her head, chuckled softly. "Actually, I was thinking that I could get yeh something? I've got a lot of updo consultations today, they take school dances very seriously here. But if I get a break, and I get a chance to grab a coffee, would yeh like me to bring yeh one? D'yeh... uhm... drink coffee?"

 

[Varshanka]

Zatanna

“If I can get you anything else?”

She'd locked her purse in the salon, but she still had some tip cash in her pocket, and she dug for this. "Well, no, not right now. But I'll definitely be doing a little holiday shopping here. It is just so difficult to find a good Saturnalia present these days..."

“I have most of the items, if not all, on hand for that event. In fact..” Zatanna said, turning to the shelving unit behind her. And with care she lifted down a candle of Saturn. Molded to look as a man in Roman garb and covered in vines and leaves. The legs were parted, but were bound by a twisting vine. “a Cerei.” She said setting it on the counter, next to the Deck of Tarot. “A blessing upon your home and shoppe.

She shook her head, chuckled softly. "Actually, I was thinking that I could get yeh something? I've got a lot of updo consultations today, they take school dances very seriously here. But if I get a break, and I get a chance to grab a coffee, would yeh like me to bring yeh one? D'yeh... uhm... drink coffee?"

“A cup of coffee would be welcome,” she replied placing a shiny penny on the counter in change. “Tea is more harmonious to the soul. But coffee keeps me awake during the late night incantations.” She finished with a smile.

 

[AmenRa]

History (in the making)

It was an old disguise of Man he had used many times before, and for a long time. He was comfortable in its elements, in it's trappings. He felt at ease, and he allowed himself to delve into the curiousier qualities of the human species when he assumed this shape.

And so it was that Dr. John Jones, Ph.D., an imminent and known (tenured)professor of archaelogical studies from Marshall College (upstate New York, actually a sub-campus of the famous Metropolis (Kansas, of course) University), decided it was time to take a break from the mundane task of priming graduate students for their theses. He did, in fact, consider himself taking a break from many things, save his sworn mission, and which he still would nightly assume watch over the entire world as he had done the night before.

But this was morning. And, this was Smallville High School. Here he planned to not prime graduate students, but instead instill a bit of his deep knowledge of human history into the minds of high schoolers.

And so, the last class had let out with the ringing of a bell, and he saw a student place an apple on his desk in passing. Dr. Jones moved to the front of his desk and grabbed the apple, stopping its spin and inevitable toppling to the the floor.

"Don't forget," he said as the students filed out, "read Michaelson, chapter 6, for next time. And, I'll be in my office on Tuesday, but not Thursday."

Other students were already at the classroom door, waiting their turn to take their seats as the class emptied.

Dr. Jones straightened his bowtie, and he realized he might look a bit overdressed in a gray tweed suit. He placed a pair of gold-rimmed spectacles on his face, and took a bite of the apple. This was the look of a Knower of Things, and J'onn J'onzz, whether he be in this form or that of the Martian Manhunter, was so much a Knower of Things.

This was History. And he intended to teach it with the best of his ability, for history was something he knew so much about. He had watched it happen. He had lived through it all. And, he shared something in common with a few of Smallville High's students: together, they had recently made history.

So it begins.

 

[ChasNicollette]

Jamie.

"Actually," Jamie mused, there up at the whiteboard with marker in hand, chuckling, "we had a bit of a joke, at school, that 'Eureka' was actually Greek for 'Oi! This bathwater's too hot!'"

Capping the marker and turning to face the class, tossing the marker aside hap-hazardly, Jamie crossed his arms behind himself and tutted. "And, thus, good oul' Archie, we owe him a great deal. Not only did he discover the principle of buoyancy as it relates to the displacement of fluid, but in the same swell foop he invented the ancient art of streaking, celebrated by many a madcap Greek-themed scholarly establishment to this very day. Remarkable man."

A bit of a tittering laugh washed through the classroom, and then the bell rang, and Jamie blinked behind his glasses, glancing up at the clock. "Lord, I should be teaching you lot about relativity, is it that time already?"

He shook his head as, collectively, his class abandoned their stools and their lab tables and so forth. "Right, right, textbooks, chapter, erm, chapter 8, there'll be a quiz tomorrow, and I want all of you ready to compare and contrast Archimedes' principle with Bernoulli's. And, erm, no streaking? Please no streaking, this isn't Ancient Greece."

 

[ChasNicollette]

Pete, Rose, Chloe, and Harmony.

Outside the office Damian sends Pete a text, "Pete meet at my place, May be able to train you might not. I found out I broke Troy's arm in three places. Dinah is going to be furious. Crater Lake might have to wait until later."

As Rose and Chloe were receiving heads-ups from Kyle, Pete was receiving one of his own from the mysterious and damnright frightening "David Cain."

Pete grunted, closed his eyes. Goddamn, D.C. There ain't one of us hasn't wanted to kick the snot out of a jock at one time or another, but we gotta choose our battles, man. We gotta choose what hill we die on. Do we fight actual bad guys or just dudes who woke up on the wrong side of the weight-bench this morning?

Squaring his shoulders, blowing air out through his lips, he texted back: 'Keep me posted, m'man. Good luck with Shouty Mama and the firewalk. I'ma go radio silent 'till next break.'

Clapping the phone shut, he glanced up to see Harmony eyeing him, intrigued.

Rose and Chloe were powering off their phones, and Chloe murmured: "Kyle wants me to meet him at lunchtime, probably has 'a scoop.'"

Rose smirked. "Love that investigative mind of his."

"Oh, is that what you love about him?" Chloe smirked.

Rose stuck her tongue out at Chloe.

Pete leaned over to Harmony: "Not counting chickens or nothin', but I think my usual Monday afternoon thing might be cancellin' on me. You wanna hit up The Talon, catch a movie or something? I heard they got a Kurt Wimmer double-header."

Harmony paused to consider this. "Tonight I have to go shoe-shopping for Friday, since Dawn bailed on me. Again. You could come with me?"

Pete hesitated. His eyes went a little wide.

Chloe grinned and Rose hid her red-faced chortle behind a hastily-raised notebook.

Pete glared at them sourly, and then, manning up, turned back to his girlfriend: "It would be an honour."

Rose almost fell out of her seat laughing, and Harmony shushed her noisily. "Stop it! He's being gallant again, I love that."

"Better Gallant than Goofus," Chloe opined, smirking.

Pete sighed, and shook his head, and as he powered down his own phone he wondered if it was a bad sign that he was actually preferring Damian beating the shit out of him at Crater Lake for an hour instead of going zapato-shopping with his girl.

 

[ChasNicollette]

Ceri. "Every Saint Has a Past, Every Sinner Has a Future."

“A cup of coffee would be welcome,” she replied placing a shiny penny on the counter in change. “Tea is more harmonious to the soul. But coffee keeps me awake during the late night incantations.” She finished with a smile.

Ceri admired the "Cerei," it really had spectacular workmanship. She hadn't seen its like since...

Well, not since that funny little bookseller in San Francisco.

"Thank yeh for this," Ceri smiled softly. "For both of these, that's so splendid. I was raised to have the utmost respect for people's souls, far be it from me to repay such kindness with a disharmonious beverage. Tea it is."

Gathering up her things, Ceri stood there quietly for a moment. "Welcome to Smallville, Zatanna Zatara. If there's ever anything I can do for you, really, really-really. Yeh let me know."

 

[camerindrake]

Damian

He was standing in front of his locker and then he hammered it causing it to open after he removed the lock. Damian sighs and takes out his history book and notepad. He closes his locker and reapplies the lock.

As he walks towards class he thinks, 'I lack social graces. I guess I always knew this. I must learn or I may never be able to hide my true self from the world. That will put everyone I know in danger.'

He walks into History and sits the back of his knee still aching but that was the least of his worries. He hopes this ends up a more peaceful period than the last one.

 

[TearsoftheWorld]

"New teach."

"What happened to the last one?"

Kara Zor-El sat quietly in her seat, but she listened to everything that was being talked about in class, including the conversation happening directly across from her. Two students were talking about their new history professor, but only Kara and a select few others knew what really happened to the old one. The departure of Raya and Var-Sen was bittersweet for Kara. She was glad that they had moved on to someplace more peaceful and secluded, but she also felt very, very alone.

There weren’t that many Kryptonians left in the universe, and even some of those weren’t of the nicest sort.

With a sigh, her eyes flicked up towards the door as Dr. Jones walked inside, and almost immediately she raised an eyebrow.

Dr. Jones was... picture perfect, but in a very nerdy sort of way. He looked as if one pat to his chest would fill the room with a heavy blanket of chalk dust. And the bow-tie? Kara wasn't entirely up to date with the latest fashion crazes, but she knew enough to know that bow-ties were practically ancient relics. Even her father didn’t wear any, and he was as old-fashioned as they came.

Kara sat up in her desk and pulled out her books. She knew she shouldn't be judging anyone by their outward appearance, so she put her thoughts behind her and tried her best to look attentive.

 

[Varshanka]

Zatanna

"Thank yeh for this," Ceri smiled softly. "For both of these, that's so splendid. I was raised to have the utmost respect for people's souls, far be it from me to repay such kindness with a disharmonious beverage. Tea it is."

Gathering up her things, Ceri stood there quietly for a moment. "Welcome to Smallville, Zatanna Zatara. If there's ever anything I can do for you, really, really-really. Yeh let me know."

With a warm smile Zatanna spoke, soft and melodious.

“Yam ruoy syad eb delbuortnu yb soak.
Yam ruoy sthgin eb delbuortnu yb feihcsim.
Yam ruoy syad eb desselb htiw eceap dna sehcir.
Yam ruoy sthgin eb desselb htiw etaredisnoc srevol.
Eb ta ecaep dna ynomrah htiw eht dlrow Irec.”*

“I will Ceri. If I am in need. I will be considerate and ask of you.”

After watching Ceri depart, and that was kind of nice. Watching her walk, that is. Anyway, after watching Ceri depart the shop, Zatanna stepped into the back. She still needed to have a conversation with the beaded curtain, but it could wait. For now she wanted some information about this town.

Kneeling in her circle, she chanted. Soft, butterfly whisper quiet. Within minutes her self split. One her corporeal being, the other the Ethereal aspect. Soul searching. Astral Travel. Spirit walking. Call it what you will. But very very few beings could see her that way. Except mediums, and they just thought she was a ghost.

Standing up and stepping forwards from her body Zatanna left the room, and building behind. The tinkling of the door would bring her back in a moment. And the circle would protect her physical body from.. attack. If anything was foolish enough to do so.


******

*May your days be untroubled by Kaos
May your nights be untroubled by mischief.
May your days be blessed with peace and riches.
May your nights be blessed with considerate lovers.
Be at peace and harmony with the world Ceri.

 

[ChasNicollette]

Ceri. "I've left the girl I was supposed to be and someday I'll be born."

With a warm smile Zatanna spoke, soft and melodious.

“Yam ruoy syad eb delbuortnu yb soak..."

Ceri paused. She knew a few languages. She'd had to. She'd studied hard.

She didn't know this one.

But this was... this was like listening to one of Rose's Paula Cole albums, that song "Tiger," from "This Fire," a mysterious warping shifting sound, inside-out and upside-down. And it was... lovely.

Invocation and benediction...

"Yam ruoy sthgin eb delbuortnu yb feihcsim...."

Ceri's eyes widened and her breath was taken away.

"Yam ruoy syad eb desselb htiw eceap dna sehcir.
Yam ruoy sthgin eb desselb htiw etaredisnoc srevol.
Eb ta ecaep dna ynomrah htiw eht dlrow Irec.”

And a little bit breathless, and a little bit flushed, her equilibrium swirling, Ceri smiled at Zatanna.

“I will Ceri. If I am in need. I will be considerate and ask of you.”

Mystified but not unpleasantly, Ceri nodded. "See that yeh do."

And she turned, with a little tinkle of the bell and a little creak of the door, Ceri gathered her purchases to her chest and went out into the chilly December morning with a warm feeling blossoming in her chakras.

She felt. She couldn't place it. It was... nice.

Zatanna had placed a blessing on her, of some form or another, and Ceri felt... blessed.

They'd used a Welsh word, it had been a family thing, they'd used it over the years to say "fantastic," but really it could also mean "blessed."

And she felt that, right now, right now as she strode down the sidewalk towards a full day of updo consultations and one terribly worrisome corrective colour, she felt...

Blessed.

She felt...

Fantastic.

She smirked softly, as she strode with a spring in her step. "Bendigedig."

 

[camerindrake]

Dinah

Dinah drove back to the flower shop and was finally able to open up. She saw Ceri as she walked out of the new place. She smiled and waved to the Welsh woman.

"Ceri how are things." Dinah said.

"I was going to get us a cup of Tea but David had an altercation this morning." she continued as she got the door unlocked.

"Whats in the bags?" She asked as she looked closer.

 

[ChasNicollette]

Ceri. "She's convinced she could hold back a glacier."

Dinah drove back to the flower shop and was finally able to open up. She saw Ceri as she walked out of the new place. She smiled and waved to the Welsh woman.

The Celts that were Eire and The Celts that were Cymry were not exactly alike, time and distance had seen to that. But they were like enough for Ceri, never mind the bollocks of all those tribal conflicts. (There was the matter of the lack of a soft "c" in either alphabet, for instance, "Celt" was like "Kelt," "Cillian" was like "Killian," and the number of times in her life Ceri had been called "Serry" instead of "Kerry" simply boggled her mind.)

And thus, strolling down Main Street, an inexplicably fantastic feeling in her heart, Ceri grinned beatifically at the Irishwoman and waved cheerily back. "Hulloh, Dinah."

"Ceri how are things." Dinah said.

"Looking up," Ceri admitted, though she had no evidence of this. Just a hunch.

"I was going to get us a cup of Tea but David had an altercation this morning." she continued as she got the door unlocked.

"Oh, he's a wild one thinks he's on the straight and narrow, isn't he?" Ceri tutted sympathetically. She still retained a mother's tendency to judge the boy harshly; she didn't want such a creature negatively influencing her own girl. But at the same time... Ceri was perfectly familiar with those who would learn the language of violence fluently but neglect to learn when to hold their tongue.

Claire was like that...

Claire and Damian were very much alike.

...just as Ceri had decided that it might not be too late to salvage the soul of Edmund Tennylson, so too had she decided that Damian was not beyond saving. Perhaps this was foolish and selfish: if she could save them, she might still be able to save Claire.

Maybe.

"Still, thank yeh for the thought. The tea, I mean. Maybe later? I need to get something for Zatanna, the nice young lady from that shop."

"Whats in the bags?" She asked as she looked closer.

"These?" Ceri smirked. "Stuff, and other things. Have yeh any interest in spirituality and magick, Dinah? If yeh do, yeh should really give that place a look. Fascinating woman, fascinating selection. Got a nice Tarot deck, probably I'll do a reading on meself when I get home. And this gorgeous holiday candle... though not for any modern holiday."

She nodded in the direction of the flower shop. "I love what yeh lot've done with the front window, the poinsettias... how's it working out, there? I trust Nell's not too harsh a taskmistress?"

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Wraith

Woah!

I had seen this face before.

He touched down gently near the lawn of the great manor and reverted, or morphed rather, back into John Jones, eminent professor of archeology and associate dean at Central Kansas University.

He was, after all, trying to blend in with a race that he shared nothing with.

Except, perhaps, a passion to see this world left in peace.

As he approached the front door, he saw a familiar being, one who had stood considerable ground at the Battle of the Cave.

Jones tipped his old, dusty hat to the creature that felt like Shadow.

"Pleasant evening," he remarked in greeting. He then stood by The Wraith and waited at the door.

I nodded my head at the man as he took roll, listing off names as he crunched an apple. Kara was looking perplexed, and when she looked my way I signed "one of us " to her (Ceri had been teaching us sign. Trying, I think, to work on our subtlety, as we were more than proficient at making things go boom!).

I straightened up and listened as the ancient being began talking. This man was not only teaching history, he was teaching it's heart and soul to us as well.

 

[LuckyVic]

Barry Allen, The Flash

Things had gone fairly well in the first few classes. The occusional prank on the new teacher, like young mr. estermin who tried to change seats repeatedly during the class to confuse him. of course the whole class got a laugh when all of a sudden the seat Mr. Estermin was going for was just a tab out of place.

Then there was the group of kids during 3rd period that tried an assualt on him with spitballs. And yet they kept missing him, no matter how hard they tried.

All that Barry had been prepared for, what he wasn't was all the girls that kept asking him personal questions. Even as he gave out the assignments for the next day, he was wondering if doing this was the right thing, or maybe he should just go to Metropolis and see about becoming a forensic scientist there. Nope he had made his choice, he'll see it through. And hopefully he'll manage to teach some of these kids a little something about science.

 

[AmenRa]

History (progress)

Dr. Jones checked off the name of Kyle Greystone as he answered "here".

The briefest of glances, the quickest darting of the eyes, and a world of 'hellos' were shared. J'onn knew better than to telepathically say hello to Kyle. It would be bad, in the whole Ray Stantz good/bad total protonic reversal bad way.

And, of course, Kara Kent was here. The daughter of Zor-El, with whom he had helped recently save a world. J'onn remembered she didn't know him in this form. He would make it a point to tell her, if the other Outsiders didn't do it first.

Continuing with the roll call, let's see who else is in class today....

 

[camerindrake]

Damian

Damian looks up and says, "Here," when he hears his name. He feels the eyes of his classmates on him from his altercation this morning and the whispers of the gossip. He looks over to Kyle and then to Kara wondering if he should ask about helping him learn the ways of traditional society.

He then scoffs at himself when the thought passes his mind, 'Why don't I just have the Manhunter from Mars just give me a download of proper etiquette.'

He then sighs to himself as he looks out of the window, 'No that would just be like cheating on an exam. This is an exam I need to pass on my own. The lesson is learning how to truly live. If i cant pass that one I am not going to be any good when I get to old or beaten up to badly to go on. Then where will I be.'

Damian's jaw tightens at that thought, 'If I live long enough to see an end other than the one I saw happen to Anissa.'

He looks over to Kyle, 'Also I came to terms this isn't the Wraith months ago. And actually become colleagues with the man.'

The young knight sighs to himself as he looks back out the window, 'Brooding doesn't help. It's not just a puzzle to be solved. I wonder if Alfred is at the manner this afternoon. I'll ask him before I start meditation.'